Magic Garden Marks Its First Year: Nuanu’s Living Classroom Expands With Eight New Nature Experiences

One year ago, Nuanu Creative City committed to dedicating 70% of its land as green space and transforming much of it into thriving habitats for beneficial insects and native species. Magic Garden was created as a cornerstone of that vision around regeneration, biodiversity and environmental learning.

In just twelve months, it has grown into a living ecosystem of orchids, native plants, butterflies, and pollinators, expanding from its initial three facilities to eight, including the highly anticipated teaser of The Glow Project, which will be fully launched in 2026. This growth positions Magic Garden as one of Nuanu’s most popular spaces for nature education, family activities and immersive learning.

"At Nuanu, our intention is to consistently build ecosystems that serve as incubators for people with valuable talents and the same spirit shapes the way we work with plants and insects," said Ida Ayu Astari Prada, Brand & Communications Director, Nuanu Creative City. "Rebuilding the habitat is more than creating a home for beneficial insects, it is a legacy for our students and visitors, encouraging them to care for the things that truly matter."

Magic Garden was launched in 2024 with the Butterfly Garden, Botanical Gallery, and Orchid Galore. Over the past year, it has deepened its biodiversity work - from maintaining a butterfly survival rate ten times higher than in the wild to expanding its native plant collection and strengthening its Miyawaki reforestation programme. This progress enabled the development of five new facilities: the Permaculture Garden, the Biota Lab, the growing Miyawaki Forest, the Rabbit Park, and a teaser of The Glow Project. Together, these additions position Magic Garden as a key educational destination for students and families across Bali, offering hands-on creative learning experiences that foster a deeper understanding of nature.

Beside facilities expansion, Magic Garden also doubled down on initiatives, from releasing 14,000+ butterflies, 30+ engagement with schools, and a special dedicated space for Bali’s endangered species. As part of Nuanu’s ecosystem, Magic Garden participated by providing workshops, accumulated to 21 workshops (terrarium and kokedama). The venue is also a home for one of Indonesia’s national flowers, Anggrek Bulan (Phalaenopsis amabilis) and making its first exhibition debut inside Labyrinth Art Gallery, themed Liana Reverie.

To mark its first anniversary, Magic Garden is unveiling a sneak peek of The Glow Project, a two-year development now entering its preview phase. - The experience features 13 bioluminescent organisms and 31 fluorescent plant species, each selected for their ecological significance and educational value. It introduces visitors to the ways organisms use light for communication, adaptation and survival and how these natural mechanisms contribute to overall ecosystem health.

“Every organism we care for in the Magic Garden carries its own story and role in maintaining ecological balance. Managing this project has shown me that our responsibility goes beyond tending the space - it's about bringing this knowledge closer to the community,” said Komang Sri Junisabtika, Venue Manager of Magic Garden. “When people understand how light functions in nature, they naturally grow more connected to the ecosystems around them.”

Public access to The Glow Project will open in 2026 through guided night tours priced at IDR 250,000 per person. These tours will give visitors the opportunity to observe glowing organisms up close and learn about their ecological roles.

As Magic Garden enters its second year, it continues to grow as a living classroom, a place where conservation, creativity and community learning come together. The anniversary marks the ongoing evolution of Magic Garden’s mission to nurture biodiversity and inspire environmental curiosity across Bali in through creative and experiential forms.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nuanu Creative City